Owolabi Salis, a Nigerian-born lawyer, and political figure, has become the first Nigerian to travel into space.
He was one of six passengers aboard Blue Origin’s NS-33 mission, which successfully lifted off from West Texas on June 29, 2025.
Salis shared the capsule with fellow crew members Allie Kuehner, Carl Kuehner, Leland Larson, Freddie Rescigno Jr., and Jim Sitkin. The flight, operated by Blue Origin, the aerospace company founded by Jeff Bezos, marked the latest in the company’s New Shepard programme, a private spaceflight initiative that enables civilian travel to space.
According to Space in Africa, the 10-minute suborbital journey took the crew beyond the Kármán line, the internationally recognised boundary of space, reaching an altitude of 105.2 kilometres.
Before liftoff, Salis described the mission as deeply meaningful beyond its scientific and technical significance.
“This mission is more than just a trip into space, it’s a spiritual journey, a call to inspire future generations,” he said.
Salis expressed his hope that the historic flight would spark a greater interest in space exploration among young Africans.
Born in Ikorodu, Lagos State, Salis is licensed to practise law in both Nigeria and the United States. He is also the author of Equitocracy, a book that promotes a form of governance based on fairness and equity across diverse communities.
In addition to his legal and academic pursuits, Salis is no stranger to exploration. He previously made headlines as the first Black African to visit both the Arctic and Antarctic within the same season.
Salis also has a long-standing presence in Nigerian politics. He contested for the Lagos State governorship on several occasions: under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2003 and 2007; the Action Party of Nigeria in 2007; and the Alliance for Democracy in 2019. After the 2019 elections, he challenged the victory of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu in court, though the tribunal dismissed his petition.
Chioma Kalu
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